Vehicle door lock



Aug. 18, 1953 e. A. sMm-r VEHICLE DOOR LOCK 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 8, 1945 Inventor 5 22 (fizz/1 EQWQ WM (Ittoqnegs Aug. 18, 1953 5. A. SMITH 2,649,321

VEHICLE DOOR LOCK Filed Dec. 8 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 k 1 K /z.% i /g7 19 A 6? 00 j; q 1 //7\% l: H 4/20; if 00 Z/ 0156 20 a v 31 J Aug. 18, 1953 e. A. SMITH VEHICLE DOOR LOCK 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 8, 1945 (Ittornegs Patented Aug. 18, 1953 VEHICLE DOOR LOCK Glen A. Smith, Detroit, Mich., assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Delaware Application December 8, 1945, Serial No. 633,671

17 Claims. (01. 292-) A look for automobile doors is the subject of this application.

Among the objects and advantages of the new look are the following:

The door is held by the engagement of a latch and cam one of which is in the post and the other in the door. In closing the door with the door latch held by a trigger, the post cam swings against the resistance of a spring. To open the door the trigger must be disengaged from the door latch. This is effected from the outside by a handle or from the inside by a push button.

The known vertically reciprocable push rod may be used not only to lock the mechanism from outside release but also from inside release.

The outside control is in the form of a straight pull handle wherein the part grasped by the hand remains parallel with the side of the body.

A spring loaded cam action avoids the necessity of slamming the door. The door can be closed from safety position without reopening. There is included a rugged dependable safety catch acting independently of the latching device.

Other objects and advantages will be understood from the description which follows.

An embodiment of the invention is shown on the accompanyin drawing wherein- Fig. l is a view from within, showing in elevation a vehicle door, with parts broken away to illustrate door operating mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the door.

Fig. 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a section on line 55 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section through the door and its post.

Fig. '7 is a section on line 11 of Fig. 6.

Fig, 8 is a vertical section through that part of the locking mechanism carried by the door with parts displaced from the positions shown by Fig. '7.

Fig, 9 is a view like Fig. 8 with a different displacement of parts.

Referring by reference characters to the drawing, numeral l represents a door. The door post is marked [3. Within the post adjacent the door in the closed position of the latter is secured a housing I? having an upper region IS, a lower region 2 l, the upper and lower regions having between them a relatively large region 23 into which moves a door carried casing 25. In the upper region is pivoted at 2'! a keeper means in the form of a locking cam 29 biased by a heavy spring 31 to the position shown by Fig. '7 whereits angular end projects into the region 23 and its extreme end is stopped by the wall separating the upper and middle regions. Provision is made for adjusting the cam carrying member as seen at l5. Within the lower region a wedge block 33 is pressed by a spring 35. The block extends into the middle region where it engages the door carried casing 25 and urges it upwardly so that it contacts the wall of housing I? in door closed position. This provision avoids the need for conventional dovetail engaging parts.

The door carried casing 25 has pivoted therein at 3? a latch 39. Latch 39 has an upper face M adapted to engage face 43 of cam 29 as the door closes. If latch 39 is held from rotation in a manner to be explained cam 29 swings up against the tension of spring 3| and the parts assume the position shown by Fig. 7 in which the door is held closed. The door is opened by releasing a trigger 45 which ha a face 4'! adapted to engage an undercut face 49 on latch 39 as shown in Fig. 7 and in Fig. 9. A spring 5| is supported on the hub ,53 of the trigger and has an end which engages latch 39 as shown at 55. This spring is relatively light and if the trigger be withdrawn from contact with latch 39 the door may be opened, the latch swinging at its end rides over cam 29.

The trigger may be swung to its release position from within the vehicle or from without if the door is not locked. Figs. 1 and 2 show a push button '5? in the inner face of the door. When pushed, it operates through the instrumentality of a pin 59 and an arm 6| to rotate a rod or rockshaft 63 against a restoring spring 65. The

shaft extends across the door and is journalled' at its ends. Adjacent the end remote from the push button it has an arm 61. Arm 6'? engages a crank 69 of a crankshaft l! rotatably supported in the door casing. The operating end of shaft H is squared into an opening of the hub of the trigger as shown at #3. Normally when the button is pushed the trigger may be rotated to the position shown by Fig. 8 and the door may be opened.

To release the locking trigger from outside the door one puls the U-shaped handle id. The arms of the handle slide in the door. Within the door are two overlapping levers El and i9 terminally pivoted to the door at 3! and 83 respectively. At their mid points the levers are pinned together at 85, and a spring Bl associated with the pin biases the levers and the door handle to the full line position shown in Fig. 6. The opposite ends of the levers are connected to the handle arms at 89 and 9L Thelevers ll and 19 are preferably slotted at the pivots 89 and 83.

trig er 25.

3 Lever I9 is extended and its extreme end is forked as at 99 to engage a. lever 95 pivoted in the door at 91. Lever 95 has an arm 99 deflected to enter a recess IOI in a sliding plate member I93. This plate member I03 constitutes control means for trigger 45 101 holding the latch 99 in door locking position and for releasing said latch. Plate member I355 has; a slot I05 to actiommodate a casing pin I97 and permit it to slide and rock or r: tate. The plate I93 has an arm I09 adapted to engage a shoulder III on the trigger sothat as the plate slides in response to handle movement the trigger is released and as'p'ring I I 9 is stressed and is available to restore the parts to the position shown by Fig. 7.

There is provided on the inside of. the door a reciprocable rod H which, when moved downward, prevents the opening of the door by the handlejli, the sliding plate I09 and the trigger.

H5 is 'eoniieot-ed toe rod eiitension II? suitably guided in the door. The lower end of rod exte s ol Ii'lis 'conr'jiected to a lever I I9 which may be rocked on its pivot I 2! by depressing rod's IIE, JIQFI'FMLQIQ shown in 5. A flat spring I20, bia' ed in the direction of pivot IZI; having one end connected; to the lever I I9 at IZIla and the other end anchored to bracket I201) acts to hold lever I I9 and consequently ro'd I IS and rod extension "I17 in either of the adjusted positions shown in 5. In the full'li'ne position thepoint o: attachment lifia orjsp i'ng 12a is below the pivot :12] ofjever I 19 and inthe dotted line position shown inFi'g. lathe point or attachment has movedjabovejsaid pivot I21. Thus in the positior'ls of rest of lever I19 the attachment point IZQ'Z 'iseither below or abo'vethe pivot I2 I. Pin I23 'dnplate I93 extends finto the end of this leverfsd that whenthe lever is rocked to the dotted line position of F g. 5', pin I22 rocks plate its about pill 101 asshdwi Fig. 9. In doing so am I and anotherarm I'I'IJ engage the trigger. side of trig er shoulder H1 is formed so sto. provide a'cam surface II I 01. against which arm H9 is adapted to'abut when'plate I93 is rotated to the position shown in Fig. 9 by the lock- 'ch'alnism'I i'5+|'|1;i' l 9-122. In this posie op atirig' e'n of the'lriar'iually operated ile" e9 'isj iit orengagement with sliding plate I819 as s'howninFigQQ', thus'preventing the outside'operatingmeehafiism from-releasing trigger 135. The iioi'si'cl'e operating mechanism, however,

't hifou'gh push button}? and rod 93 connected to ig'g'er '45 at Ta -Ti aea'n still rotate the triggerjto re ease lat rs'e and thus open the 'door.

fWithfarin [it 'in sliding engagement with surface. Ilia rotationofithetrigger in a releasing,

' orcounterclockwise direction'will cause the plate 'lriembel' "tfi3 tote mo fd b'ak'to its normal'posi- .'tion, as shown i'n Flg' "7 and 8, 'in'which lever 99 is ag'ain alig iiedfwith he not'clied portion of the plate whereby the outside foperatih'g mechanism is returned to an operative relationship with Numeral I25 re I gf'SI. its end 'may extend through the'wallof deer easing 25 and ride over wedge 33 in the post nel'nber as tl'ie door moves toward its closed position. Before the latchand cam lock t'ogethertlle safety catch passes over the'wedge ai'iii thjejooo s' held from accidental opening. This hold isii'ele'ased when the trigger e ag s? Pe i I 11. 1 the ei j and lifts it as will be seen by comparing Figs. 7 and 8.

Provision is also made to lock the door from release from within. For this purpose reciprocable rod III is provided with a lug I29. This lug I29 is keyed to rod I I? by means of a tongue 529a on the lug I29 working in a groove I29b in rod I I1. Lug I29 rests on top of a fixed mounting e ement I3fl providedwitli a lip I90a which overlies said lug I29. Tliti's'rod I-II may be shifted up and down without movement of lug I29. However, by reason of the key connection the lug I29 maybe moved from its full to its dotted line eo'siii'oa (Fig. 6) by rotating rod III.

Mounted on an offset portion of supporting element 71% is a U-shaped supporting bracket I991} having vertically aligned holes I390 formed in the le'gsthereo f. Bracket I302) is adapted to support rod I IT for vertical and rotational movemerit; 7

When rod II! is rotated on its axis, lug I29 is riiovedv in a horizontal plane. This moves said lug I29 into the path of laterally disposed lug Ifil onrockshaft 63: Thelug I31, upon rotation of rockshaft 63, is moved in a vertical plane. If, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5, the lug I29 has been moved into the path of said lug I31, rotation-of rockshaft '93 by "push button 5 E is prevented and release or trigger. E5 is prevented. If II? is depressed only, the outside door handle is incapable opening-the door. It, however, said rod It"? is depressed and al'sorotated both the outside handle and the inside piish button aie prevented frbm releasing the trigger to open the door.

A lock on butgiai 5f the (1061' is marked 139. When the key istened it rotates a s'tem and turns an inner arm 138. This ar'm engages a downturndarin IE6 on plate Ina-whereby "the plate i il-fii's rotated-precisely as it is rotated by the locking-rods I IE-and 111. When so rotated the handle itis'preveiitedfrom rotating-the looking trigger.

I claim:

1. In "a doorflatoii'iiieeliaiiism for use with a post member, having a keeper mounted on said post iiieinb'er and" a door "member having a cooperating latch alienated-on door member, mean-s or releasing said l'ateh'fr'o'm door locking position eoinpris'ing, a substantially u-shaped handle adaptedto be located outside of the door with its end exteniijihgthr'ough the d-oor,1ever arms adaptedfto be terminally pivoted at Opposite eridsfto and'wi'thin'the door and being connected' at their other "ends to the handle ends, whereby said handle 'is movable toward and away from said .door, and means connecting, said levers to s'aid'latch, for the purpose set-forth.

'2; i'n'a doorthin'ech'an smfforuse with a "post member. having "a keeper mounted on said pos't'member andadoorjiiiehiber'having' a'tz'p'nperatiii'g latch mounted on "said door member, means for, releasing said latchfr'om' dobrlo'ck'ing position oom-prising, fa ,substanti'all'y U sh'aped handle "adaptedto be moat-eel outside: of the door substantially parallel; thereto with its e'nd's exl'ev'er jairhs fad'aptedto'be terminally pivoted at teh'din'g'through thefdoior to the inside there-of,

opposite ends to and Within the" door and bein f 'connei'zted lat th'eii other ends to the handle" ends to mount thehandl'effor movement'toward and away from said door," and. means connecting Said levers to" aid latch. for the purpose set forth.

. post'jinefnber, having jaike'e'permounted on said post'ifiembr' and 'a 6661 member having a'c'oo'pcrating latch mounted on said door member, means for releasing said latch from door locking position comprising a substantially U-shaped member adapted to be located outside of the door with its ends slidably mounted in the door and extending to the inside thereof, a pair of pivotally interconnected levers adapted to be terminally pivoted at opposite ends to the inside of the door and being pivotally connected at their other ends to the handle ends whereby said handle is movable toward and away from said door.

4. In a door latch mechanism for use with a post member, having a keeper mounted on said post member and a door member having a cooperating latch mounted on said door member, means for releasing said latch from door lockin position comprising, a substantially U-shaped handle adapted to be located outside of the door with its ends slidably mounted in the door and extending to the inside thereof, a pair of p o ally interconnected levers adapted to be terminally pivoted at opposite ends to the inside of the door and being pivotally connected at their other ends to the handle ends whereby said handle is movable toward and away from said door, c

and a spring acting on said levers to bias id handle toward said door.

5. In a door latching mechanism for use with a post member, having a keeper mounted on said post member and a door member having a cooperating latch mounted on said door member, means for releasing said latch from door lockin position comprising, a substantially U-shaped handle adapted to be located outside of the (1001 with its ends slidably mounted in the door and extending to the inside thereof, a pair of pivotally interconnected levers adapted to be terminally pivoted at opposite ends to the inside of the door and being pivotally connected at their other ends to the handle ends whereby said handle is movable rectilinearly toward and away from said door, a spring biasing said handle toward said door, and means connecting one of said levers to said latch, for the purpose set forth.

6. In a door latching mechanism for use with a post member, having a keeper mounted on said post member and a door member having a 0009- erating latch mounted on said door member, means for releasing said latch from door locking position comprising, a substantially U-shaped handle adapted to be located outside of the door with its ends slidably mounted in the door an extending to the inside thereof, a pair of p votally interconnected levers adapted to be terminally pivoted at opposite ends to the inside of the door and being pivotally connected at their other ends to the handle ends whereby said handle is movable rectilinearly toward and away from said door, a spring acting on said levers to bias Said handle toward said door and means connectin said levers to said latch, for the purpose set forth.

7. In a door latching mechanism for use with a door member and a post member having a epe and having a cooperating latch adapted to be mounted on said door member, and means for releasing said latch from door locking position comprising, a substantially U-shaped handle adapted to be located outside of the door with its ends slidably mounted in the door and extending to the inside thereof, a pair of pivotally interconnected levers adapted to be terminally pivoted at opposite ends to the inside of the door and being pivotally connected at their outer ends to the handle ends whereby said handle is movable rectilinearly toward and away from said door, a

spring acting on said levers to bias said handle toward said door, and an extension on one of said levers connected to said latch, for the purpose set forth.

8. In a door latch mechanism for use with a door member and a post member having a keeper mounted on said post member, a cooperating latch adapted to be mounted on said door member, trigger means to engage and hold said latch in door locking position, independent means for releasing said trigger means from the outside and from the inside of the door, a rod membermounted for reciprocable and rotatable movement, means connecting said rod member to said outside releasing means, means on said rod member engageable with said inside releasing means, said rod when reciprocated in one direction breaking said connecting means to said outside releasing means and when so reciprocated and also rotated being positioned to obstruct said inside releasing means.

9. In a door latch mechanism for use with a door and a post having a keeper member comprising a spring biased cam on said post, a cooperating spring biased pivoted latch member mounted in a casing carried on said door, a springpressed wedge in said post engaged by said casing in door closed position to urge said easing into contact with an adjacent portion of said post, and a safety catch in said door carried casing, said safety catch being biased toward said wedge and adapted to engage and be held by said wedge to prevent the door from opening before said latch and keeper fully engage, and trigger means engaging said safety catch and being engageable with said latch member, said trigger means being movable to retract said safety catch upon being disengaged from said latch member.

10. In a door latch mechanism, a spring actuated and pivoted latch member adapted resiliently to engage a keeper, trigger means adapted to engage said latch member and to hold said latch member from disengagement with said keeper, a spring actuated plate member movable to dinferent positions and having a part extending upon one end of said trigger and adapted to engage said trigger for moving said trigger in one direction, said plate member having one position wherein said part engages. said trigger, a first operating means for moving said plate member in one direction and into one of said different positions relative to said latch member, said first mentioned part of said plate: member during movement of said plate by saidi operating means in said one direction being; adapted to engage said trigger and to move said? trigger from a position engaging to a position disengaging said latch member, a second operating means being adapted to move said plate: to a second position in which said first operating means is operatively disconnected from said plate, a cam surface on said trigger, a second part projecting from said plate member and; adapted to engage said cam surface when said plate is moved to the second position, a third operating means being adapted to move said trigger independently of said first operating means, said cam surface during the movement of the trigger by said third operating means being adapted to slidingly engage said second plate part and to thereby return said plate to said first position.

11. In a door latch mechanism, a spring actuated and pivoted latch member adapted resilient- 7 iv to engage a keeper, trigger means adapted to engage said latch member and to hold said latch member from disengagement with said keeper, a spring actuated plate member movable to different positions and having a part extending upon one end of said trigger and adapted to' engage said trigger for moving said trigger in one direction, said plate member having one position wherein said part engages said trigger and holds said trigger out of engagement with said latch member, a first operating means for moving said plate member in one direction and into one of said diiierent positions relative to said latch member, said first mentioned part of said plate member during movement. of said plate by said operating means in said one direction being adapted. to engage said trigger and to move said trigger from a position engaging to a position disengaging said latch member, a second operating means being adapted to rotate said plate to a second position in which said first operating means is operatively disconnected from said plate, a cam surface on said trigger, a second part projecting from said: plate member and adapted to engage said cam surface when said plate rotated to the second position, a" third operating means being, adapted to move said trigger independently oi said first operating means, said cam, surfaceduringthe movement of the trigger by said third operating means being: adapted to slidingly. engage said second plate part and to thereby return said plate to said first, position.

12. In a door latchmechanisin, a spring actuated and, pivoted latch member resiliently to engage a, keeper, trigger means adapted to en gage latchmember and. to hold said latch member from. disengagement with said keeper, a spring actuated plate member having difierent positions and having a. part extending beyond one end of said trigger and adapted toengage said trigger for movingthe trigger inone direction, said. plate member-having. a notch formed at one end thereof and having one position wherein said partengages, said trigger and holds said trigger out of-enga-gement with said latch member, a operating means extending into the not-ch n said plate member and-being adapted engage said, plate within said notch and to move said plate member into one of said differ.- ent positions relative-to said latch member; said first-mentioned part of said plate member during movement of said plate member-in one direction by first operating means being adapted to saidtrigger andtto-rnove said trigger from a position engaging to a position isengaging said latch, a second operating means associated w th said, piate member and being adapted to rotate said plate member out ofen'- gagement with said. first operating means, a cam surface Onsaid. trigger, a second part projecting from said plate member and adapted to engage said surface when said plate is rotated out of engagement with said first'opersting means, and a third-operating means being adapted to move trigger independently of said first operatingmeans, said cam surface durthe movement of said trigger by said third operating means being adapted-tosiidingly ensaid-second plate part and to-thereby return saidv plate to, said-v first position.

13. In a door. latchmechanism, alspring actuated and pivoted latch member adapted to engage-saidflatch; member andto hold said latch member; fromidisengagement. with; said" keeper,

a spring actuated plate member movable to different positions and having a part extending upon one end of said trigger and adapted to engage said trigger for moving said trigger in one direction, said plate member having one position wherein said part engages said trigger and holds said trigger out of engagement with said latch member, a first operating means for moving said plate member in one direction and into one of said different positions relative to said latch member, said first mentioned part of said plate member during movement of said plate by said operator means in said one direction being adapted to engage said trigger and to move said trigger from a position engaging to a position disengaging said latch member, a, second operating means being adapted to move said plate to a second position in which said first operating means is operatively disconnected from said plate, a cam surface on said trigger, a second part projecting from said plate member and adapted to engage said cam surface when said plate is moved to the second position, .a third operating means being adapted to move said trigger independently of said first operating means, said cam surface during the movement of the trigger by said third operating means being adapted to slidingly engage said second plate part and to thereby return said plate to said first position, said second operating means including a blocker member, said blocker member being positionable with said plate in said second position to restrain said third operating means against movement.

14. In a door latch mechanism of the type having a latch adapted to engage a keeper to prevent the opening of the door, a trigger engaging said latch to retain said latch in en agement with said keeper, means operatively connected to said trigger to move said trigger out of engagement with said latch from inside said door, and another means operatively connected to said trigger to move said trigger but of engagement with said latch from outside said door and a locking device on one side of said door for preventing movement of said trigger, in which said locking device is movable to a plurality of locking positions, said locking device including a linkage assembly operatively'connected to one of said trigger moving means, said assembly being adapted to operatively disconnect the associated trigger moving means from said trigger, and an element being adapted to restrain said other trigger operating means against movement, said linkage assembly being rendered operative in one of said locking positions and both said linkage assembly said element being rendered operative in another of said, locking positions.

15; In a door latch mechanism of the type having a latch'adapted to engage a keeper to prevent the opening of the door, a trigger engaging said latch to retain said latch in engagement with said keeper, means operatively connected to said trigger to move said trigger out of engagement with said latch from inside said door, andjother means operatively connected to said trigger to move said trigger out of engagement with said latch from outside said door and a locking device on the inside of said door for preventing movement of said trigger, in which said locking device is movable axially or axially'and rotationally to a plurality of locking positions,

said locking device including a linkage assembly operativelyconnected'to one; of said trigger moving means,- said-assembly being adapted to opr J eratively disconnect the associated trigger moving means from said trigger, and an element being adapted to restrain said other trigger operating means against movement, said linkage assembly being rendered operative in moving said device axially and both said linkage assembly and said element being rendered operative in moving said locking device axially and rotationally.

16. In a door latch mechanism of the type having a latch adapted to engage a keeper to prevent the opening of the door, a trigger engaging said latch to retain said latch in engagement with said keeper, means operatively connected to said trigger to move said trigger out of engagement with said latch from inside said door, and other means operatively connected to said trigger to move said trigger out of engagement with said latch from outside said door and a locking device on one side of said door for preventing movement of said trigger, in which said locking device is movable to a plurality of looking positions, said locking device including a rod member axially movable to one locking position and axially and rotationally movable to another locking position, a linkage assembly operatively connecting one end of said rod to one of said trigger moving means, said assembly being adapted to operatively disconnect the associated trigger moving means from said trigger upon the axial movement of said rod, and an element mounted upon said rod and adapted to restrain said other trigger operating means against movement upon both the axial and rotational movement of said rod.

17. In a door latch mechanism of the type having a latch adapted to engage a keeper to prevent the opening of the door, a trigger engaging said latch to retain said latch in engagement with said keeper, means operatively connected to said trigger to move said trigger out of engagement with said latch from inside said door, and other means operatively connected to said trigger to move said trigger out of engagement with said latch from outside said door and a locking device on one side of said door for preventing movement of said trigger, in which said locking device is movable to a plurality of looking positions, said locking device including a rod member axially movable to one of said positions and axially and rotationally movable to another of said locking positions, a linkage assembly operatively connecting said rod to said outside trigger moving means, said assembly being adapted to operatively disconnect the outside trigger moving means from said trigger upon the axial movement of said rod, and an element mounted upon said rod and adapted to restrain said inside trigger operating means against movement upon both the axial and rotational movement of said rod.

GLEN A. SMITH.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 718,684 Williams Jan. 20, 1903 1,242,749 Wells Oct. 9, 1917 1,563,489 Hooppaw et a1. Dec. 1, 1925 1,738,338 Wells Dec. 3, 1929 1,990,141 Seitz Feb. 5, 1935 2,047,401 Whitted July 14, 1936 2,094,413 Schonitzer Sept. 28, 1937 2,221,181 Dall Nov. 12, 1940 2,231,075 Lakin Feb. 11, 1941 2,249,018 Marple July 15, 1941 2,301,559 Marple Nov. 10, 1942 2,310,549 Roethel Feb. 9, 1943 2,362,256 Endter Nov. 7, 1944 

